Sikh Coalition Disappointed by Failure to Indict Turban Attacker with a Hate Crime

Sikh Coalition Disappointed by Failure to Indict Turban Attacker with a Hate
Crime

ROSEBERG, Ore., March 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sikh Coalition is
disappointed that a Douglas County, Oregon grand jury declined to indict three
men for committing a hate crime when they tore off and stole a Sikh trucker's
turban. The Coalition learned yesterday that the grand jury instead chose to
indict the men on the lesser charges of harassment and theft in the third
degree.

"Burning a cross on an African American's lawn is not a mere act of vandalism,
and stealing a Sikh's turban is not a misdemeanor theft. They are both hate
crimes," said Amardeep Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition.

On August 5, 2007, Ranjit Singh was leaving a convenience store at a truck
stop in Oakland, Oregon. As he was leaving the store, three men approached
him and tore off his turban. The assailants immediately drove away in two
separate cars.

On September 6, 2007, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office arrested three men
in connection with the assault. The Douglas County District Attorney decided
to pursue hate crime charges against the attackers.

This week the Grand Jury decided that there was not enough evidence to move
forward with a hate crime prosecution. The Grand Jury therefore charged the
attackers with misdemeanor theft and harassment, but not a felony hate crime.

While the Sikh Coalition is thankful that the Douglas County District
Attorney's office pursued hate crime charges against the attackers, we are
disappointed that the Grand Jury did not move forward with a hate crime
indictment.

We are also disturbed that the dollar value of Ranjit Singh's turban arose as
an issue during the Grand Jury proceeding as a means of determining the degree
of theft the attackers would be charged with. The turban is a priceless
article of faith for Sikhs. Sikhs throughout history have chosen death over
removing their turbans since it encapsulates a Sikh's commitment to their
faith.

"I am disappointed in the Grand Jury's decision. The turban is not a hat...
They asked me about the cost -- my turban is priceless," said hate crime
victim Ranjit Singh.

"It is clear from our perspective that the Grand Jury completely misunderstood
what's at stake here," said Amardeep Singh. "Stealing a Sikh's turban is not
a matter of mere theft, it is a hate crime that injures the entire community."

The Sikh Coalition calls on the Douglas County District Attorney's office to
disallow the attackers to plea down the current misdemeanor charges. The
Coalition also calls on the federal government to investigate charging these
attackers with hate crimes under federal law.

SOURCE Sikh Coalition

Amardeep Singh of Sikh Coalition, +1-212-655-3095, X 83, +1-917-628-0091,
amar@sikhcoalition.org